Xbox Live: What is Xbox Live? – How to Sign Up, Sign In or Manage Account

Xbox Live is a Microsoft’s online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service. It is one of the best ways to interact with people. Xbox Live opens you to a wider world of gamers to play with. With cross-device multiplayer, you can play with your friends regardless of whether they play on Xbox One or Windows 10 PC. It is powered by hundreds of thousands of servers with great speed and reliability and delivers maximum performance while reducing lag and cheating. With your Live account, you can enjoy the freedom to play your favorite games in more places than ever.

You can easily access your games, friends, and gamers community on the go across Xbox One, tablet, Windows PC, and mobile smartphone. In other words, you can take your games and achievements anywhere you go. With the Live’s cross-device multiplayer, you can compete in heart-pounding matches that require quick thinking and fast reflexes. It allows you to play games against other players online, as well as download demos, trailers, and even full games in the Live Arcade. With the world’s premier gaming community, there is always someone ready to play with who matches your skill, style, and interest.

What is Xbox Live Gold?

An Xbox Live Gold membership allows you to play games online with friends, family and any gamer from anywhere. It allows you to tune into all your favorite Netflix shows from your Xbox 360 and use apps such as MLB.tv, Hulu, and ESPN.

What is Xbox SmartGlass?

Xbox SmartGlass is companion application for Xbox 360. It can be used with Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows Phone, iOS, and Android devices. The SmartGlass connects with the Xbox 360 and allows more interactive entertainment. It allows mobile devices to potentially serve as second screens and remote controller.

What is Xbox Live Marketplace?

The Xbox Live Marketplace refers to a virtual market designed for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content. The service offers movie and game trailers, Video Store, game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, Xbox Live Indie Games and so on.

How to Sign Up for an Xbox Live Account with Your Microsoft Account

You can sign up for Xbox Live account with your Microsoft account. If you don’t have one, you can visit our tutorial on how to create a Microsoft account. Here are the steps to sign up for an Xbox Live Account:

Type www.xbox.com/en-US/live on any web browser and hit the Enter button

Click “Sign in” at the top-right corner of the homepage.

Tap the “Create one” link.

Enter your Microsoft account details. This will create an Xbox Live profile for you using your Microsoft Account information and take you directly to the User Agreement page. Another option is to provide a different email address other than Microsoft’s.

Type in an email address and Enter password.

Click on the Next button at the bottom of the page. It will take you to a page with a code entry field.

Verify your email account. Just open the email address you provided and look for an email from Microsoft. Retrieve the 7-digit code from the mail and enter into the code entry field. Note that if you’re creating a brand new email address for Xbox Live, you won’t have to verify your email address.

Click Submit. Submitting your code will verify your email address.

Provide your personal information such as First name, Last name, Date of Birth, and Region. Then, tap the Next Button.

Click “I Accept” button. This will create your Xbox Live account. With your Xbox account, you sign in to Xbox Live on any Xbox 360 or Xbox One console.

How to Sign In to Your Xbox Live Account

Type www.xbox.com/en-US/live on any web browser and hit the Enter button

Click “Sign in” at the top-right corner of the homepage.

Enter your Microsoft email address, phone number or Skype ID and click the Next button

Fill in your Microsoft password and click the “Sign in” button. This will take you to your Xbox Live homepage.

What is the Cost Xbox Live Gold Subscription?

Xbox Live is a subscription-based service that you can either purchase over one month, three months or one year period. The subscriptions are $59.99 for 12 months, $24.99 for three months, and $9.99 for one month. You can also buy Live Gift Cards and Gold Subscription cards at retailers and activate to subscribe.

With free Xbox Live service, you will only be able to access voice chat, Xbox Live Marketplace, video apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc, but you’ll not be able to play games online.

Romanus Eke is an AWS Certified Solutions Architect with a keen interest in cloud computing, web development, special networks, server administration, automation, telecommunications, payment services bank (PSB) and applications development. He has over nine years of IT experience and has built many E2E solutions for clients. As a blogger and an ISTE Award Winner, he has published over 800 articles. He likes technology and spends most of his leisure time writing about technology-based 'self-help' articles. Romanus holds a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelors Degree in Electrical/Electronic & Computer Engineering.
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